Peter Gerard guest blogs about what is going on at the formerly indie stalwart Vimeo, Reinventing Distribution: Lessons from "Eno" and AVOD YouTube Webinar sign up.
I probably abandoned Vimeo 7 years ago… for some reason, I forgot why. I still have over 100 private videos on there — most of which exists nowhere else - it’s just another time capsule vault.
I think if we know anything, we have to be honest and say we know nothing about what’s to come between the next 5 minutes and 5 years.
Open-source tools and 100% ownership of your niche community are non-negotiable, and that’s really where it’s at to give your personal film works and it’s viewers the best experience. I see the next iteration of getting work made and out there should include incrementally eliminating the middlemen from our lives that isn’t a protector of the works— from the platform builders and fee collectors who see your works as just general commodities they could live with or without, to the nickel-and-diming payment process fees that are so 20th century.
We’re in the rambling dust bowl age of the digital-maker economy. Setting up roots anywhere now could be perilous. Right now I see posting a work on Substack behind a sub wall being more advantageous than putting it on Vimeo - at least for 2025.
The problem is—and I’m totally open to being wrong about this—if it’s not already clear, platforms like Vimeo need filmmakers far more than filmmakers need platforms like Vimeo anymore. Let's see.
Excellent piece, Jon. Filmmakers need a place where they can post work, be legitimized, put their work in context, and create revenue from their work.
If you haven't yet checked out what we're doing at Metalabel, worth a look.
I just took a look - looks super cool and i love your motto - look forward to connecting!
Great to hear from you Yancey - been too long! Happy to check out Metalabel. Let me know if you want to chat.
I probably abandoned Vimeo 7 years ago… for some reason, I forgot why. I still have over 100 private videos on there — most of which exists nowhere else - it’s just another time capsule vault.
I think if we know anything, we have to be honest and say we know nothing about what’s to come between the next 5 minutes and 5 years.
Open-source tools and 100% ownership of your niche community are non-negotiable, and that’s really where it’s at to give your personal film works and it’s viewers the best experience. I see the next iteration of getting work made and out there should include incrementally eliminating the middlemen from our lives that isn’t a protector of the works— from the platform builders and fee collectors who see your works as just general commodities they could live with or without, to the nickel-and-diming payment process fees that are so 20th century.
We’re in the rambling dust bowl age of the digital-maker economy. Setting up roots anywhere now could be perilous. Right now I see posting a work on Substack behind a sub wall being more advantageous than putting it on Vimeo - at least for 2025.
Thanks for that - tend to agree - but had a chat with Vimeo and they are going to work hard to get filmmakers back.
The problem is—and I’m totally open to being wrong about this—if it’s not already clear, platforms like Vimeo need filmmakers far more than filmmakers need platforms like Vimeo anymore. Let's see.
yep - we'll see!